Eating Giant Larva

Man vs. Wild: Bear Grylls eating a frighteningly large beetle larva at 0:30/1:26

An Average Singaporean Man (In Singlish)

First of all, let us set some definitions. To be considered an average Singaporean man, he needs to have:

1) Average IQ
2) Average EQ
3) Average leadership qualities
4) Average income
5) Average risk-taking behaviour
6) Preference for stability

So, what does it mean to be an AVERAGE man in Singapore? Check this out:

Made in Singapore. Got a red passport. "The President of Republic of Singapore requests all authorities to allow the Singapore citizen named in this passport to pass without delay or hindrance and, if necessary, to give all assistance and protection." Wa...feel so honoured sia.

Attended nursery and kindergarten. "The girl don't friend me. I sad sad, want milk milk."

Compulsory Primary School education. After school, still got tuitions and swimming. Must get as many Band 1s as possible.

Secondary School > Poly or JC. Started first relationship but play play only. She super hot and chio.

"Purple light in the valley. This is where I wanna be." - a retarded army song.

ORD loh~ Continued to study. Don't know what course to read in uni so just do engineering.

Graduate lor~

Started working. Pay so-so only. Most importantly, office got air-con and desk-bound. Better life than working under hot sun. Keep a low-profile so can go home every day at 5 sharp.

Started dating a woman. This time sibei serious one. Not chio also never mind. Steady and feminine can already.

"Would you marry me?" She agreed. ROM-ed at Fort Canning Hill.

Ballotted a few times. Finally got HDB house!

Wedding. Spent fucking hell lots of money. Heart pain.

Got baby. Cry everyday. Luckily wife wake up to sayang baby. Continue to sleep because next day got work.

Continue to work like hell. Rush here, rush there. When nothing to do, act busy so won't be retrenched. Still got family to take care of.

Work so hard also no point. Must learn to invest. So bought a condo.

Earn some passive cash through rental.

Bring my kids to zoo. They like to eat KFC but not healthy. Send them to good schools.

Old liao lor. Children all married and move out. Stay with wife in HDB. Drink kopi and practise taiji.

Die liao lor. Singapore land expensive to bury. Told children to cremate me.

Yamaguchi Tatsuya

Guest:

a bit random here...but i just suddenly thought that u look a little like TOKIO's yamaguchi tatsuya, esp when he's younger...

10:39 PM Jul 15, 2009 (Posted on ShoutMix Chat)

The first thing that came to my mind was "Who is Yamaguchi Tatsuya!? He better be good-looking." So I wiki-ed him. And ooooo, this is how he looks like:

And when he's younger:

According to Dramawiki,

Name: 山口達也
Name (romaji): Yamaguchi Tatsuya
Profession: Actor and singer
Birthdate: 1972-Jan-10
Birthplace: Soka, Saitama, Japan
Height: 167cm
Weight: 57kg
Star sign: Capricorn
Blood type: O
Family: Wife and son
Talent agency: Johnny's Entertainment

I like acting and singing, but I'm not a professional. I live in Singapore. And most importantly, I am still single and AVAILABLE, not married like Yamaguchi!

Oh crap, this entry is full of myself. I shall stop here.

We look so different! He is so AWESOMELY HANDSOME.

Ok, maybe I do look a little like him, just a little~ LOL.

Dear "Guest", I think you have made my day! =D

More comments from you are welcomed.

ASK! (Continue)

Thank you everyone for participating. This special Q&A entry was introduced with the hope of making the blog more interesting. Some of you chose to remain anonymous; it is perfectly fine with me!

If you still have any (random) question, feel free to post at the shoutbox (on the right); I'd see how I could help and I might answer in the blog. Just like before, you can remain anonymous.

A compilation of the questions asked. For your reading pleasure, please:

Question:
Flight attendants always need to secure* the cabin before taking off and landing. Why?

*Chain up the drinks counter, ensure passengers fasten their seat beats, restore seats to upright position, firmly secure luggage compartments, ensure window shades are raised etc.

Answer:
Flight attendants "secure" the cabin for safety reasons in case the takeoff or landing turns extremely rough, like during a rejected takeoff (technically known as RTO).

For instance, luggages may fall out and hit people if the compartment is not secured properly. Passengers may also be thrown out of their seats if they never secure their seat belt. Loose objects may fly, hurt people and make a mess.

Another reason is so that the cabin will be cleared of anything that might cause a delayed exit from the aircraft.

If seats are not in the upright position it will make it hard for the passengers behind to get out of their seats in an emergency. It will be even harder if the cabin is in a mess.

Update:
The window shades must be raised so that passengers and crew can readily assess the situation outside the aircraft in the event of an accident and/or evacuation. For example, with the shades up, it's easy to see whether an exit is blocked by fire, debris, etc.

This is done before take-off and landing because that's when an evacuation is most likely to happen, e.g. RTO. During cruising, there is no immediate danger or evacuation to worry about, so the shades can be lowered.

Question:
What kind of smell/essential oils can keep insects at bay?

Sometimes at night when I open the window, cockroaches or moths will be attracted by the light and will fly into my room. I want to ward off the insects by vaporising essential oils.

Answer:
It has been scientifically proven that an active component, 2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline, found in pandan leaves can indeed repel cockroaches. However, as the extraction or synthesis of this particular chemical is expensive and time-consuming, it's almost impossible to get this essential oil anywhere.

We sometimes see taxi drivers place a bunch of matured pandan leaves at the back of the car. According to a scientific report, this works due to the small confines of the cars. The chemical evaporates and diffuses.

Above: Pandan Leaves

Please note artificial pandan flavouring doesn't work; it may attract them instead!

Alternatively, you could use Catnip essential oil. One of its components, Nepetalactone is used as an active ingredient in most organic insect repellects. I am not sure if you can get Catnip oil readily in Singapore though.

Above: Catnip Plant

At the end of the day, I think the best method to ward off cockroaches is still to keep your living environment clean and tidy! If not, close your windows.

ASK!

I am running out of ideas how to make my blog more interesting.

I gave some thought to it last night. I shall introduce a special entry today: Question and Answer!

Have you ever wondered why does the sky appear blue on a bright sunny day? Is mudskipper a fish or amphibian? Why do mammals sweat? What is the longest English word? Are cockroaches blind? What would you say if a close friend confesses to you? What would you do if you want it but your girlfriend is not ready? ...the list goes on...

If you have an inquisitive mind just like me, then you will like this entry today! Just post your question, and I will take the effort to find out the answer for you.

You may then wonder, why am I doing this? 3 reasons:

1) I am very free; I still have 3 weeks before school starts.

2) I have a hunger for knowledge.

3) I like sharing what I know.

= = = Instructions = = =

1) Click "Comments" below and enter your question/s there.

2) There is no need to name yourself (i.e. you can remain anonymous). However, you may identify yourself if you want to; I could then reply you privately if the nature of your question is sensitive.

3) You can ask everything under the sun. However, I reserve the right to delete any indecent question, such as "I heard you are no longer a virgin, is it true?" OF COURSE I AM STILL A VIRGIN. =_= Such questions are defamatory, inappropriate, and thus not wanted.

4) Anyone can contribute your two cents if you happen to know the answer.

So, what makes my Q&A different from Yahoo! Answers?

You don't need an yahoo account to ask a question! And I will specially find out the answer for you.

It's free and just for fun!

Spot the Difference!

I cut my hair (again) last Saturday. Hoping to be more funky-looking, I requested for the sides to be trimmed shorter. However, the hairdresser dissuaded me as that would look punky and he added it doesn't suit me.

=( EH! Whatever lor.

Anyway, I trust his professional judgement, so I didn't argue. I was told by a classmate that he won the "Golden Scissors" award. And that was why I decided to let him cut my hair 2 years ago. Not bad, I must say. Swift but steady. However I sometimes wonder, is there really such an award - "Golden Scissors"? Sounds funny!

His name is Patrick, from Jean Yip Hair Saloon at Tampines Mall. Fix an appointment before going down.

Anyway, as part of the efforts to hone my photoshopping skills, I have slightly retouched this picture:

In a few months' time, I would become an expert in Photoshop and I would just "zng" everything I see! HAHA!

Sometimes, I hate myself for sharing so much truth in my blog.

Secrets about Men

God has wired men and women differently and we constantly seek to understand the inner lives of the opposite gender.

Even though every man is unique, there are many similar behaviours which bring the male race close together.

Dear women, do you think that you really know men well enough? Read on for details.

Majority of men...

@ masturbate.
@ watch pornography.
@ tend to neglect foreplay.
@ struggle with visual temptation.
@ want their partner to do blowjob on them.
@ would rather not use a condom for better sensation.
@ want their partner to make an effort in staying attractive.
@ compare themselves to something they see in pornography.

The above apply to the male population in general these days. Even the most seemingly well-behaved man has his needs and wants.

If you are wondering, why do I always blog about such stuff? BECAUSE I JUST LIKE IT! Get lost if you don't like!

To those who appreciate my writing, I sincerely thank you! :)

Anyway, being socially responsible, it's my duty to inform those who have not reached at least 18 years of age to leave. Why are you still reading? WHY ARE YOU SO CURIOUS. Don't you know curiosity kills the cat? You are still too childish to filter what I have written. So please leave! Don't be stubborn! School holidays are over! Get back to school and stop crowding public places. I want to do serious swimming but you kids just crowd the swimming pools and horse around!

Please respond or comment if you like this entry!

Because Kids Suck

MR Grasshopper

I just killed a grasshopper. I hate creepy crawlies especially those that can’t decide to crawl or leap, i.e. grasshoppers. Some can even fly. How disgusting. Make up your mind, fucking grasshoppers! If you want to crawl, just crawl; don’t leap or fly unexpectedly.

Check this out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40010097@N03/3677078601/

I have no idea how that creature got into my room. I tolerated for a night but it just refused to leave. So I decided to end the war. When competition becomes unfriendly or bitter, conflict surfaces and this can bring out the worst in people. In my case, there was a competition for SPACE. It created too much disgust for comfort.

Ridsect did the job! The grasshopper struggled for a while, and eventually took its last breath.

I feel sorry. I regret my action and wish it is possible to undo it. I could have used an electric fan to blow at it and chase it off.

Too bad. It's dead. The end.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (Part 2)

PP committed suicide and was pronounced dead at a hospital this morning. His sister contacted me on my mobile phone. I was half awake and couldn’t believe what I heard at first. In the background, I could hear a female sobbing. That must be PP’s mother.

I chatted with PP just two days ago. He sounded happier than before. He also promised that he would give me a buzz if he were to feel distressed.

PP didn’t call me; never will he again.

Photoshop can do Magic

Dear all,

Is perfection attainable? Is seeing really believing? Maybe not. Check out this video clip:

Interviewer:
"In your opinion, how many pictures in magazines do you think are actually retouched?"

Photographer:
"I would say, 99.9(%) are retouched."

Clinical Nutritionist:
"How does it feel to try to achieve the impossible? (It would be) Out of control. So much of what we do with eating disorders or disordered eating has to do with control to begin with. And so, if you cannot achieve, what you are looking at, don't you feel out of control?"

A general rule of thumb is, don't always believe what you see. The next time you chance upon a photo which seems too perfect to be true, take it with a pinch of salt.

To see for myself what magic photoshop can do, I decided to retouch one of my past photos.

Photoshop is amazing!

Prince George's Park Residences

I have accepted the offer to stay at NUS Prince George's Park Residences (PGPR). This residential complex is newer as compared to other accomodations on-campus. Here are some photos of the exterior, courtesy of flickr.com (anthony_m87).

I understand from some friends that the room interior, however, is a disappointment. Actually, it doesn't really matter to me, because I intend to stay only for six months, at most one year. My purpose of staying on-campus is to facilitate a smooth transition.

Cure for Boredom

Frankly, I am starting to experience boredom these days. I feel bad for bumming around and not doing anything productive with my life. The above photo was taken out of boredom. Now you know how bored I am. I have too much free time.

Samuel Yu once commented that my life is boring, and nobody would read my blog! I think he is right, somewhat. But don't worry Samuel, I will use my spare time to make my life more interesting, if not less boring.

Anyway, to people out there who are bored, read this interesting article about boredom. How paradoxical! :)

http://www.personal-development.com/chuck/boredom.htm

原來愛會慢慢增加重量

我開始害怕。發現自己愛你越來越深，我擔心會失去你。

今晚很高興有你在身旁。

What She Finds Attractive in Men

Last night, I chatted with Felicia, my platonic friend, over the phone. She shared with me what she finds attractive in men.

- One who empathizes.
- One who acknowledges his inadequacy.
- One who seeks room for improvement.
- One who gives a sense of security.
- One who remains composed in stressful situations.
- One who sweet-talks occasionally.
- One who really listens...

The list goes on. According to Felicia, a man need not be good-looking to be attractive.

“…when a man tries to perform a task which doesn’t fall within his area of proficiency, that is attractive too… …And I like men who are somewhat male-chauvinistic, very manly!”

Actually, Felicia is less superficial than she thinks she is. I am surprised all the above came from the self-proclaimed “bimbo”. Except for the last line maybe. =X

*I sought her consent before posting this entry.*

My New Hairstyle

I met up with a few friends for dinner yesterday. They commented that my new hairstyle (after ORD) is resemblant of Dragonball.

Double Degree at NUS (Part 1)

I have accepted the offer to read double degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering and Business Administration at National University of Singapore (NUS). I am not sure how intensive the programme really is, so there is a possibility that I may give up and just do a single degree.

I have come across many comments about the double degree programme at NUS. Some say that it's a marketing scheme to attract and retain students; some say that reading double (Bachelors) degree is a waste of time. Whatever it is, I tell myself to just do and give it a try.

I will talk about my experience in August. So, prospective students may want to watch out for updates!

I am very excited. It has been so long since I last stepped into a lecture theatre. It's gonna be a start of a new stage in life! =)

Is there anyone who is also going to do the above course/s?

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

"... ...Connie Culp stepped forward Tuesday to show off the results of the nation's first face transplant. Five years ago, a shotgun blast left a hole where the middle of her face had been. Five months ago, she received a new face from a dead woman. (May 5)... ..."

PP consulted a psychiatrist last week, and was diagnosed to be suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). I had lunch with him yesterday. He wanted to share his experience, so that I could blog and create some awareness on BDD. He would like to urge people who may be suffering from BDD to seek help as soon as possible.

PP was sobbing throughout the session. All I could do was to give him my fullest attention.

PP was a high-achiever in school. He did well in exams and was actively involved in many school activities. When he was in high school, he even represented the nation in a regional competition. Though PP is playful, peers and teachers still adore him for his cheerfulness. He is offered a place in the double degree programme at National University of Singapore. He has a promising future. So on the surface, there seems to be nothing PP should worry about. I was quite shocked, frankly, when PP told me he is suffering from BDD. I remember PP used to crack jokes; he no longer does.

PP described the tell-tale signs of a person suffering from BDD:

1) Dissatisfied with a certain body defect/imperfection or PERCEIVED body defect/imperfection.
2) Strong, frequent urge to examine that particular body part with a mirror (or for some, deliberate attempts to avoid mirrors).
3) Depression and sometimes, mood swings.
4) Suicidal/self-harm thought
5) Unable to concentrate.
6) Unable to lead a normal life as usual.
7) Tendency to engage only in passive activities (like watching tv, listening to music, sleeping etc).

PP revealed that he still has suicidal thoughts occasionally. I made him promise me that he will not do anything to harm himself. I have been reading up on BDD. I wonder if the news report on Connie Culp could help reframe PP's perspective of himself. I am not sure. BDD patients tend to have a closed-minded thinking.

PP knows that he should appreciate his looks and be contented with who he is. But how to, if he has a tunnel vision?

I will be there for him. He always has high expectations for himself, even including his physical attributes. He looks fine! Maybe he needs a counsellor. What do you think?

Men's Perspective on Sex

你本身對於性與愛有什麽看法?

現代社會很開放，人對於婚前性交的觀念有很大的改變。這邊指的“性交”不包括前戯，也不包括非插入式性行为；有些人可能不同意，但我本身認爲口交也不應該包括在内。

我們先談女人。我覺得女人要潔身自愛，更要時時提防心懷不軌的男人。不要因爲一時動心而與男友婚前發生性交。因爲最後如果感情失敗，損失的始終是女人。女人的生理結構不同，比較吃虧。

也可能因爲如此，大多數的女人都還懂得要自愛。可是男人不同。男人不會懷孕，所以對於性交就存有比較自私的態度。“反正我都不會懷孕，偷吃不被發現就沒關係啦。Anyway，是她自願的。”

男人性欲一來，性與愛是分開的。大多數的女人要有愛才能有sex；男人不必，只要有sex，愛可以待一會兒再談。

女人要切記，真正愛你的一個好男人是不會在婚前要求與你發生性交的。當然若是女方要求，我就沒話説咯。

我是男人，所以我了解男人。一個真正愛你的男友，以現代價值觀來說，也許可能已經不是virgin，但如果他真的愛你，是不會以想滿足個人需要為理由而進入你，而是會以擔心玩出火，怕你婚前懷孕的心態，壓抑性欲去尊重你，愛護你。

至於婚前男女之間是否可以上演前戯，非插入式性行为等，就因人而異了。以前社會比較保守，所以不行。現在，也許可以。我也搞不太懂。

其實説到底，男人女人都應該要自愛，因爲搞不好惹上性病就麻煩了。

I Left Home

兩年前的今天，我離家出走，與朋友一同溜到香港，一個星期后才回家。父母那時急坏了。Phoenix就是我在香港認識的一個中年朋友。回到新加坡后，就email他。

(This is a photo taken in Hong Kong.)

From: Phoenix
Date: 30 Mar 2007
To: Dannie

回到家好嗎？父母有生氣嗎？希望在這短短的幾天香港遊後,能令你長大一點ｏ做人不要太任性,不要太容易想信人,要用眼看,用耳聽,用腦想和用心交,不会每个都像我和Andy;記緊要顧及別人的感受,特別是父母,不要想做就做,而是應做才做,你還年青還有很多事可做可學,不要浪費青春及父母對你的愛;玩是每个人都想,但不要太瘋要注意身體健康,我不会叫你不要喝酒,但要慢慢喝,不然酒精一次上頭是很辛苦和危險的,毒品就眞的不要碰了,免得後悔終生,可能你會覺得很奇怪,像我這樣的人會跟你說這樣的話,是因為我是過來人,不想你浪費時間,後侮,和做錯事;也許真的可能是天意吧,給你碰到己改變的我,現在的我オ可以這樣去教你ｏ記得你說過快要去當兵。記緊打好基礎,日後就可以過得更好更自在,好多事情是可以晚點才做的,現在就好好的去當兵和多唸點書,不要像我書到用時方恨小,知道嗎！？Ok 我很小寫那麽多字,有點累了,下次再談ｏ

Take good care of yourself, hope to c u again soon!

Phoenix

==========================

From: Dannie
Date: 30 Mar 2007
To: Phoenix

我星期一晚上就回到新加坡了。爸妈没生气，可能因为我是家里最小的缘故吧，但是你放心啦，我不会因为如此而再次不听话。在香港的时候我没有打电话回家，所以便很好奇地问妈是否曾期待我从香港的来电，可是她笑着说她没有期待。应该是骗我的吧。我能感受到他们从小就给予我的爱，而如你所说的，不要让他们担心，自爱也就等于爱他们。对啊，老实说，这次我得承认是我太我行我素，说出国要走就走。现在回来发现有很多deadlines要赶呢，如预先报读大学的截止日期，assignments等。

在香港真的玩得很高兴。走在街上好像时时刻刻都在看偶像剧一样。 也许，岸，总是另一边比较明吧？

好期待快点长大，看看这个世界，体会到底大人经常说的"复杂"是什么。 很庆幸这次遇到你和Andy都是好人。

好啦，我明天兼职工作正式开始，得就此停笔啦，余言后叙。期待你的来信哦！

最后，我会铭记在我心，"做人不要太容易想信人,要用眼看,用耳聽,用腦想和用心交"。 =)

Best Regards
Dannie